Key Difference – Voyage vs Cruise
Voyage and cruise are two words that are related to traveling. Although these two words are roughly similar to tour or journey, they have specific meanings. A voyage is a long journey to a distant place over water or space. A cruise is a tour on a ship or boat taken for pleasure, typically stopping in several places. This the key difference between voyage and cruise. These two words cannot always be used as synonyms due to their difference in meaning.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Voyage
3. What is a Cruise
4. Side by Side Comparison – Voyage vs Cruise
5. Summary
What is a Voyage?
A voyage is a very long journey to a distant or an unknown place, especially over water, or through space. Voyage can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to a journey, similar to one described above. As a verb, it refers to the act of going on a voyage.
The term voyage is not much used in the present; however, this was a commonly used term in the past when sea travel was the norm. For example,
Christopher Columbus made four voyages to the Americas.
The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
Their voyage lasted nine months.
He spent a good part of his life voyaging in the Far East.
G. Wells wrote a novel about a voyage to the moon in 1901.
Figure 01: Map of the second voyage of Christopher Columbus
What is a Cruise?
The term cruise can also be used as a noun and a verb. The noun cruise refers to a tour on a ship or boat taken for pleasure, typically as a holiday and usually calling in at several places. The word cruise ship is derived from this concept.
The verb cruise means to sail around a particular area but without a precise destination. The ship or boat is stopped in several areas on a journey such as this. In addition to this meaning, cruise can also refer to moving speedily, smoothly, or effortlessly. Look at the following sentences to understand the meaning of this word more clearly.
They went to the Caribbean on a cruise ship for their honeymoon.
He joined a cruise to Alaska.
She dreamt of cruising the Mediterranean.
Her parents were saving money to cruise around the world after their retirement.
He was just cruising along the highway when two black cars started following him.
Figure 01: Cruise ship
What is the difference between Voyage and Cruise?
Voyage vs Cruise | |
| A voyage is a very long journey to a distant or an unknown place, especially over water, or through space. | A cruise is a tour on a ship or boat taken for pleasure, typically as a holiday and usually calling in at several places. |
| Verb | |
| To voyage means to go on a voyage. | To cruise means to go on a cruise. |
| Duration of the Journey | |
| Voyage is typically a long journey. | Cruise can be either short or long. |
| Destination | |
| A voyage has a specific destination. | A cruise doesn’t have a specific destination. |
| Medium | |
| A voyage involves travel by water or space. | A cruise involves travel by water. |
| Purpose | |
| A voyage may have different goals such as exploration, immigration, etc. | A cruise is taken for pleasure. |
| Usage | |
| The term voyage is not very commonly used at present. | The term cruise is often used in relation to cruise ship. |
Summary – Voyage vs Cruise
Voyage and cruise are two words associated with travel and tours. The difference between voyage and cruise depends on the destination, duration and the purpose of the journey. A voyage is a journey to a distant place whereas cruise is a journey over water without a precise destination, typically taken as a vacation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “123059” (Public Domain) via Pixabay
2. “Columbus second voyage” By Keith Pickering – Own work based on content from http://www.gebco.net/ (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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